Desarrollo de los gametofitos de especies mexicanas de Gleicheniaceae

In Mexico, the Gleicheniaceae family is represented by different species such as Dicranopteris flexuosa, Diplopterygium bancroftii, Gleichenella pectinata, Sticherus bifidus, S. brevipubis, S. palmatus and S. underwoodianus. Currently, few studies have described the gametophytes of some species in this family, and our objective was to contribute to the knowledge, and to describe and compare different aspects of their germination, gametophyte development, and to determine if the prothallus characters are useful for taxonomic delimitations in the group. For this purpose, specimens and spores of each taxon were collected in the field, spores were sown in Petri dishes containing agar and Thompson nutrient medium, and grown in a plant growing chamber under controlled conditions of light (12 hr light/darkness), (50 %) humidity, and temperature (18 °C night, 25 °C day). Additionally, observations of fresh materials were made and photomicrographs were taken using both optical and scanning electron microscopes. Our observations allowed distinguishing two types of germination Gleichenia and Cyathea; and three types of prothallial development Marattia, Osmunda and Drynaria. Gametangia presented more than three cells, and this is considered a primitive feature by other authors. As some variations in the germination type were observed and have not previously been reported in the literature for this family, and because of the heterogenity in the patterns of the prothallial cell development, and gametangia of more than four cells, it is important to broaden the study to other species, in order to determine the taxonomic value of the morphological characters of the gametophyte, as well as to determine if these variations are present in other species of the family.

Microstrobilate Morphology, Microsporogenesis, and Pollen Formation in Western Hemlock

In western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), the number of microstrobili per shoot averages 4.2. Each microstrobilus averages 13.9 bud scales and 17.2 microsporophylls. Microsporangia have a transverse dehiscence layer on the abaxial surface. There are an average of 1476 pollen grains per microsporangium and 17.4 million pollen grains per gram.Meiosis begins in the fall but stops at pachytene in November; it resumes in the middle of February and is completed in 1 week. Three weeks after the completion of meiosis the first prothallial cell forms and two weeks later the pollen grains reach maturity. Pollen shedding occurs 1.5 months after the resumption of meiosis and lasts for 2 weeks. Chromosome behavior and pollen formation are normal in 98.4% of the cells and in 99.7% of the pollen grains. The common abnormalities encountered are chiasma bridges, precocious disjunction, lagging chromosomes, and undersized pollen grains. The abnormalities may be attributed to the low temperatures occurring during meiosis and pollen development.